Summary A de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver seaplane, registration C-FNFO, serial number 819, departed from Kakabikitchiwan Lake, Ontario, on a visual flight rules flight for Aremis Lake with only the pilot on board. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft was observed flying northbound at a very low altitude above Sabaskong Bay with the engine operating at a high power setting. The aircraft started to climb and bank to the left. The right wing struck the lower of two electrical wires strung across a channel between two islands. The aircraft was destroyed; the pilot sustained fatal injuries. Ce rapport est galement disponible en franais. Other Factual Information The de Havilland DHC-2 Mk. I, was equipped with EDO 4580 floats. The aircraft had accumulated 11 843 hours since manufacture in 1955, and the engine and propeller had both accumulated 147 hours since overhaul. Records indicated that the aircraft had been certified and maintained in accordance with existing regulations. The aircraft had no known defects before the flight. The weight and the centre of gravity were within approved limits. The pilot held a Canadian commercial pilot licence, issued 25June1998, with a seaplane endorsement. On 01February2001, his licence was reissued with an additional endorsement for multi-engine aircraft and a Group 1 instrument rating. His licence was validated by a Category 1 medical certificate issued on 07June1999, with no restrictions, and renewed on 26April2001. He had accumulated about 1500hours' total flying time, with 1300hours on floats; he had flown 100hours during the previous 30days and 200hours during the previous 90days. He started working for the operator on 15May2001 and had previously worked for an operator in Quebec. The aircraft departed Kakabikitchiwan Lake, Ontario, at about 1530 central daylight time.1 The observed weather at 1500 at Kenora, 44miles northwest of the accident location, was as follows: winds 270 at 12knots, visibility 15statute miles, a few clouds at 7000feet, a few clouds at 14000 feet, temperature 27C, dewpoint 10C, and altimeter setting 29.77inches of mercury. Very similar conditions existed at the accident location at the time of the accident. After taking off westbound, the aircraft turned right to commence the 15-mile flight northeast to Aremis Lake, initially flying over Sabaskong Bay. Pilots flying for this operator normally cruise at 1000 to 2000feet above ground level. However, instead of climbing, the pilot descended to about 20feet above the water of Sabaskong Bay. Witnesses described the engine power setting as high and steady, indicating that the aircraft was not landing. It is not known why the pilot was flying so low. Seconds after the witnesses first heard and saw the aircraft, it began climbing and banking to the left. Just north of the channel is a small peninsula of the mainland; the channel curves to the left around the peninsula and into another channel. The right wing struck a power line about two feet inboard of the wing tip. The remains of the aircraft came to rest upright on its floats about 50yards past the power line. (SeeAppendixA.) The wire broke at the pole on the east side of the channel but remained attached to the pole on the west side. The wings and the fuselage roof had been torn off and were found on the bottom of the channel; the wire was found embedded in the right wing. The tail structure of the aircraft was torn away but remained attached by control cables. The engine and propeller were torn away but remained attached by fuel lines and control cables. The cockpit area remained relatively intact, and the pilot was still fastened to his seat. The shoulder harness strap was connected to the lap belt but had failed in overload and separated about 36inches from the lap belt attachment point. Several boats in the vicinity responded immediately, including one operated by another employee of the occurrence pilot's employer. It was obvious to the first people on the scene that the pilot's injuries were fatal. They called police and towed the floating portion of the aircraft to a nearby dock. Examination of the aircraft wreckage by investigators did not reveal any indication of a pre-impact aircraft system malfunction or airframe failure. All damage to the aircraft was consistent with overload forces from impact with the wire and the water. The aircraft struck the lower, neutral wire of a pair strung overhead across the channel. It was three feet below the upper, energized wire. The upper wire was not damaged; after the accident, its lowest point was 49feet above the water surface. Both wires were 10mm in diameter and were made of four steel strands and three aluminum strands. The wires were not marked to indicate their presence, nor were markings required by regulation. The pole on the east side of the channel was painted with alternating bands of orange and white; the one on the west side was not painted. Both poles were about 20 to 30yards inland from the shore. Investigators in a boat retraced the path flown by the pilot and found that the poles were obscured by trees and were not visible from the channel until almost under the wire. The remaining wire could be seen against the blue sky background only from less than about 200yards. Against a background of trees, it could be seen only from less than about 400yards. Canadian Aviation Regulation 601.19 specifies the following: Where it is likely that a building, structure or object, including an object of natural growth, is hazardous to aviation safety because of its height and location, the Minister may, by order, direct the owner, or other person in possession or control of the building, structure or object, to mark it and light it in accordance with the standards specified in the Standards Obstruction Markings Manual. The Standards Obstruction Markings Manual states the following: 1.2.1 Responsibility of the Minister It is the responsibility of the Minister to assess individual obstructions, namely buildings, structures, or objects, to determine if they are likely to constitute a hazard to air navigation and consequently require marking and/or lighting in accordance with the standards identified as such in this publication. 2.2 Obstructions Requiring Marking and/or Lighting Unless otherwise provided for in these standards, the following obstructions should be marked and/or lighted in accordance with the standards specified therein: (e) any other obstruction to air navigation that is assessed as a likely hazard to aviation safety in accordance with paragraph 2.3.1(a). 2.3 Transport Canada Aeronautical Evaluations The Minister may perform an Aeronautical Evaluation with respect to the following types of obstructions: (a) obstructions greater than 90m (300feet)AGL, but not exceeding 150 m (500 feet) AGL: (b) catenary wire crossings, including temporary crossings, where the wires or supporting structures do not exceed 90m (300feet)AGL; (c) obstructions less than 90m (300feet)AGL; and (d) any other obstruction specified in these standards. 2.3.1 Purpose of Aeronautical Evaluations Aeronautical evaluations are used by the Minister: (a)to determine, for the purposes of section 2.2, whether or not it is likely that an obstruction to air navigation is a likely hazard to aviation safety No record was found of an aeronautical evaluation of Sabaskong Bay or an order directing the owner of the power line to mark it. The power line was originally installed over the channel in the 1950s by a private owner. No information was available regarding the decision to place the wires overhead. When additional customers were added to the circuit in the 1970s, ownership of the wires was transferred to a utility company. The channel was occasionally used by aircraft water-taxiing to and from a nearby dock; take-offs and landings were done on the next channel immediately to the west. For new installations, the utility company does not have any written standards governing whether a wire is placed overhead or underwater; rather, the company evaluates each situation on technical and economic factors. Transport Canada (TC) is also advised during the planning phase and, if an overhead wire is expected to be a hazard to aviation safety, may require it to be marked. Other power lines in the area of the occurrence run underwater in some locations and overhead in other locations; some are marked and some are not. The Canada Water Aerodrome Supplement (WAS) is a civil aeronautical information document published annually. It contains information on known water aerodromes and is used by pilots as a reference to plan and safely conduct air operations. The 22 March 2001 edition was the most current at the time of this accident. It contained a chart of the Nestor Falls / Sabaskong Bay area, depicting the power line struck by the aircraft. (SeeAppendixA.) Listings of operational information in the WAS for the two registered water aerodromes at Nestor Falls and Sabaskong Bay both cautioned Numerous P-lines near ldg area. The pilot's company indoctrination training included briefings on the hazards of power lines and the general locations of wires in the company's area of operations. When pilots were dispatched, the company briefed them on the location of wires near their destinations and recommended specific areas for landing and take-off. However, no information was received as to whether the occurrence pilot had been briefed about the specific wire involved in this occurrence.